By Jake Donovan

Rising junior welterweight prospect Jose Zepeda needed just 44 seconds to force Armando Robles to quit Saturday evening in Tijuana, Mexico. 

The win is Zepeda's fourth straight knockout, none lasting longer than three rounds over that stretch. 

Expectations were for the unbeaten 25-year old to put in some rounds, as Robles (28-4-2, 15KOs) had never previously been stopped through 33 pro fights. That statistic changed in an instant, when a well placed body shot forced Robles to a knee, where he remained until trying to pop up just as he was counted out. 

The official time was 0:44 of round one.

Zepeda cruises to 23-0 (20KOs), picking up his ninth career 1st round knockout and the quickest win of his career. Including among his four-fight KO streak is a one-round blitzing of former 140 lb. contender Victor Cayo last November. 

On the undercard, Edivaldo Ortega preserved his unbeaten record with a hard-fought eight-round decision over Dennis Contreras (19-4, 18KOs). The local super bantamweight southpaw prevailed by 78-74 and 79-73 (twice) to improve to 21-0-1 (11KOs). 

All of Ortega's pro fights to date have taken place in his home state of Baja California, Mexico, with all but three coming in his Tijuana hometown.

Both bouts aired live on TV Azteca in Mexico and beIn Sport Español in the United States.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox